About me
Qualifications and Training
Here’s more information about me and how I work. I’ve also written about what I work with and how to make a free initial appointment .
I am a BACP-accredited counsellor with a Postgraduate Diploma in Humanistic Therapeutic Counselling from Brighton University. My Humanistic training emphasises the human capacity for growth and development. I have also completed additional training in grief and loss, trauma, attachment, using creative methods, working with anger, and Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT).
I am currently working towards Certification in Art-Assisted Grief Therapy, and volunteer as part of a palliative care visiting service for patients at the end of their lives and their families.
I previously worked in paid and unpaid roles in mental health support, a Women’s Centre drop-in, adult learning for refugees and asylum seekers, and supporting adults with learning disabilities.
How I work
I offer you a safe, confidential space to explore what is happening in your life. This is mostly by talking, sometimes by writing, drawing, using images and noticing physical sensations. These are different ways to help us look at what you want to understand or change, as well as what you want to find peace or acceptance to be with.
My ongoing trainings, and experience with courageous clients over the years have helped me understand more about how our minds and bodies connect. Integrating research from neuroscience and the workings of our Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) with our life experiences and attachment patterns offers so much insight into understanding and regulating our emotions, how we think, feel and behave.
Running through all this, is the quality of the relationship we have to our self. This includes our self-talk and our self-belief: the way we talk to ourselves inside, and the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves. These stories affect how we understand our histories, what we believe we can hope for in life, and what our relationships and future ‘should’ look like.
Some clients know exactly what they want, but don’t worry if you feel unsure about where to start. I will work with you to find a way of expressing what you want to do. It’s true that people often come because something feels ‘wrong’, however your sessions do not have to be problem-saturated! Your feelings, thoughts and emotions are all welcome in our work, we will not ignore the hard stuff but we also look for the light and laughter when we can.
I will not make you talk about things you don’t want to talk about. We will take it at your pace.
Diversity and inclusion
As part of my work – and how I want to live in the world – I have an ongoing curiosity about, and commitment to, diversity and inclusion. This includes educating myself about privilege and unconscious bias, and examining my own beliefs and prejudices. I have sought out conversations, information and CPD on race, disability, sexuality, gender identity and expression, and intersections there-in.
As a therapist it is essential to me that people feel seen and valued, so they feel safe in our work together. This means my research and personal work is life-long. I’m happy about this, because when people are included in society as their full selves, life is richer for everyone.
Why Silver Birches?
I have always enjoyed being outdoors and in nature. During a difficult period in my life I used to visit a wooded area full of silver birches, and it became a soothing place for me. In mythology, birch trees represent renewal, healing and new beginnings – appropriate symbolism for a counselling practice!
